mellivora

KILIMANJARO 8 DAYS’ HIKE

Overview

This 8 days Kilimanjaro hike takes you through the lemosho route (trail), starting off your hike through a beautiful & remote rain forest, with good chances of seeing wildlife. This trail is nothing other than spectacular, considered the most scenic up the Kilimanjaro & with extra day for acclimatization chances of successful summit-ting are higher than ever

Trip features

  • Group hike, maximum of 7
  • Tour is guaranteed to depart
  • Fairly paid crew
  • Accommodation before & after hike.

Itinerary

We will pick you up from the airport & take you to your hotel in Moshi – Chanya lodge or in Arusha – Tulia spa & boutique, later on will brief you on the tour with the guide who will also check on your hike gears

Depart Moshi for Londorossi Gate, which will take about 4 hours. Then we will drive to the Lemosho trailhead (another hour to reach the trailhead). Upon arrival at trailhead, we will have lunch and then commence through undisturbed forest which winds to the first campsite, Forest camp Know as (Big tree Camp).

 

Elevation (ft): 7,800ft to 9,500ft

Distance: 6 km

Hiking Time:3-4 hours

Habitat: Rain Forest

Full board at Forest camp Know as {Big tree Camp}.

After your breakfast, we will continue on the trail leading out of the forest up into a savannah of tall grasses, heather, and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. 

As we climb up through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we will reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 camp. The view of Kibo from across the plateau is amazing.

Dinner and overnight at Shira One Camp.

Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1 Camp
Elevation: 9,498 ft to 11,500 ft
Distance: 8 km/ 5miles
Hiking Time 5-6 hours

Today is the gentle walk east toward Kibo’s glaciered peak, across the plateau which leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland. Stay at Shira 2 camp or continue to Moir Hut, a little-used site on the base of Lent Hills. 

A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth.

Elevation (ft): 11,500ft to 13,800 ft.

Distance: 14 km.

Hiking Time: 5-7 hours.

Habitat: Moorland.

Full Board at Shira 2 camp.

Soon after our breakfast, will start a walk, our direction will change to the South East towards the Lava Tower. Our direction will change to a place called the “Shark’s Tooth.” 

Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. 

You will have a rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. 

Elevation (ft): 13,800ft to 13,000ft.

Distance: 7 km.

Hiking Time: 4-6 hours.

Habitat: Semi Desert.

Full Board at Shira 2 or Moir Hut camp.

Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp.

After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft

Distance: 4 km

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Full Board at Barafu Hut Camp.

At midnight to 1200am, we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the Kilimanjaro trekking.

At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. 

At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.

Celebrate, take pictures, and make memories before descent straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, we will stop at Barafu for lunch. 

You may need gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. 

Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft).

Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent.

Hiking Time: 7-8 hours’ ascent / 4-6 hours’ descent.

Habitat: Arctic.

Full Board at Mweka hut Camp.

After breakfast, we will continue with our descent down to the Mweka Park Gate. 

Our vehicles will be waiting for you at the Mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in Arusha (Tulia spa & Boutique) or chanya lodge in Moshi

Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft.

Distance: 10 km.

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours.

Habitat: Rain Forest.

Tip: You can get gears for rental 

Tip: insurance recommend is one covering you to 6000m above the sea level as with this you are eligible for helicopter medical evacuation learn more

Tip: about the Kilimanjaro trail learn more

These prices include:

  • Transport to and from Moshi to the trail head
  • Kilimanjaro National Park permits, camping/hut fees, rescue fees (totaling 1165$ per person)
  • Value Added Tax (VAT) – 18% of the tour price
  • Expert guide, assistant guide, cook & porters 
  • Bottled oxygen, for emergency rescue only. Other equipment’s with the guide, radios, oximeters for oxygen level checks
  • Four season, 3-person mountain tents, double occupancy
  • Sleeping pad, foam, 1.5 inches thick
  • Mess tents, tables, chairs, lanterns
  • Free storage of excess baggage not required on the mountain hike.
  • Fresh, nutritious meals on the mountain. (can be catered for vegetarian, vegan, gluten free & Halal)
  • Breakfast at hotel

Not included in price:

  • Airfare
  • Personal gear & equipment – packing list 
  • Tips –tipping guideline
  • Private toilet at extra cost 150$ as will require an extra porter

Tip: a mobile power bank can be useful. As there are no chargers on the mount with exception to ranger posts which they will charge you 2$ for a go.

Price

-2450$ per person – we understand prices vary a lot from 1600$ – 5800$ learn why our price is a great deal & ethical (crew are fairly paid, as most companies’ exploit crew especially the hard working porters) – see price breakdown 

Why should you consider companies paying porters fairly, example? Porters categorically are low income individuals, porters are hired per hike, porters carry 20kg along with about 5 – 8kg of their personal gear up the mountain, at higher altitude last camp porter will descend to the previous camp to take water supply, for all this work the minimum required wage by law is 10$ a day but companies will exploit porters mostly to price compete. With us porters are paid fairly & when you tip, its received as a tip & not a wage correction you are not aware of. & we recommend tipping as it goes a long way in the daily lives of the crew.

See crew size & roles to understand on our crew size

Booking terms 

Booking is with 10% deposit – 245$ per person which can be paid online via card or by bank transfer, final payment 90% is expected on arrival in cash preferably USD (Euro, Gbp & Tshs also accepted). Card payments will have a 3.5% surcharge 

Online payment link below

https://payments.pesapal.com/safarisolestours

Bank transfer details

Bank account – Safari soles company ltd

Bank – NMB BANK PLC

Branch name – Arusha business center

Account number – 42810007704

Bic/ swift code – NMIBTZTZ

Currency – USD

Note: Our Tanzania banks don’t use IBAN in place of Iban use the account number 

Cancellation policy 

Fully flexible cancelation policy is maintained on circumstance of cancelation as a result of multiplier effects of COVID crisis) Meaning we now offer a fully flexible cancellation policy.

Other useful links.

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mellivora

Quality Tanzania Safari Tours, personal service and expert guides. At Mellivora we attach great importance to this. Our Dutch and Tanzanian team is trained to organize the best safari trip. To go that extra mile for you.

Contact

Bondeni street, arusha, tanzania

Photos

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